Location: Muirkirk, Ayrshire
Event: 28 August 2011
Report: Snowdon Sports
Endura-Pedal Power rider Gary hand secured victory in the Wanlockhead Road Race at the fifth attempt after a windswept edition of the 56-mile race based on roads around Muirkirk in Ayrshire.
The event was run in increasingly windy conditions, with the north westerly gusts driving the pace early on, but resulting in a tough last 20 miles.
The early pace put paid to the junior riders' hopes of a good finish as the stronger riders sped towards the first climb of Glen Taggart at 40mph.
An elite group of four riders took the initiative with Gary Hand (Endura Pedal Power) becoming an early favourite to clinch the win.
After the climb of the Mennock Pass to Scotland's highest village of Wanlockhead the lead group had amassed a lead of a few minutes and looked set to fight out the top placings.
Despite some aggressive attacks by Liam Cowie (Endura Pedal Power) it was team-mate Hand who prevailed taking his first victory after five attempts.
The contribution of the National Escort Group motorcycle marshals and Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary's Sanquhar officers should also be noted, providing a safe race passage around this very scenic but challenging route.
Results:
1 Gary Hand (Endura-Pedal Power) 2:26:00
2 Eddie Addis (Velo Ecosse)
3 Scott McCrossan (Endura-Pedal Power)
4 Liam Cowie (Endura-Pedal Power)
5 Neil Taylor (Edinburgh RC) all @ same time
6 Peter Murdoch (Team Cycle Lane) at 4:00
7 Finlay Young (Velo Ecosse)
8 Greig Brown (Dooleys RT)
9 Lewis Hodgart (unattached)
10 Stephen Russell (Team Cycle Lane) all @ same time
British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.
